.NTI.MTIyMw

� doing wrong. This is rather commendable, but there should always be an aim in seeking one's friendship--an aim above mediocrity. The cultivation of friendship should tend to improve one's habits, one's morals. In doing so, there is real enjoyment,--there is nothing else at the bottom of it. When one seeks friends for a something to be gained, and that something cannot be had, how soon friendship turns to hate; it cannot be otherwise; the first motive was bad, and the result springs from it. How cautious one ought to be in making friends, and how easy it is to cultivate the friendship of many. Without a suspicious thought, one is led to a precipice, and over its height he is thrown by those whom he could not have believed to have been guilty.

Spurious friends will do so many bad acts with a smooth face. Others again will appear as our friends by telling us of our faults, when their own faults are far greater than those whom they accuse. There is no occasion to make things appear worse than they are, because the darkest side is always before us. It is only inflicting a double punishment without any happy result, for the accused is more likely to become worse.

Such friendship is base, unsociable and poisonous. Point out the way to better our condition, and not sink one deeper into that over which he is lamenting. Cheer up--never frown upon one who has been unwise, because the accused may have a chance to retaliate.